September/October 2014 - Royal Town Planning Institute

Issue 83 September/October 2014
M a g a z i n e
O f
t h e
R . t . P . i .
W e S t
Celebrating the centenary
T
he Royal Town Planning Institute shares its
centenary with the 100th anniversary of the
outbreak of World War 1. It therefore
seemed appropriate to hold our Centenary
Autumn Reception at the National Memorial
Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire.
The 155 acre Arboretum site opened in 2001
from a restored gravel pit and has gradually
become more and more popular, with visitors
rising to around 300,000 per year. The range of
memorials and facilities is growing all the time.
Indeed, the Arboretum has now become a key
cultural, heritage and tourism venue within the
Midlands. The Charity foresees a significant
expansion of the facility by a further 200 acres
in due course. Part of the plan involves the reopening of Alrewas railway station which will
open up access to visitors travelling by public
transport from throughout the country.
The event on the evening of 4th September
was certainly memorable. All the past Chairs
of the West Midlands Branch were invited and
15 of them were able to attend, including
Shirley Trafford (who chaired the Branch as
long ago as 1982).
The guests were treated to a very moving tour
of the Arboretum by the entertaining and wellinformed guides, who highlighted the
commemorative trees and memorials, many of
them showing strong symbolism. The
centrepiece of the Arboretum is the Armed
Services Memorial which records the names of
all the people who have fallen in conflicts since
the end of the 2nd World War.
Before the evening meal, we heard a
fascinating talk about the development of the
Arboretum and the significance of the various
memorials and trees. No-one was left in any
doubt about the significance of the venue not
just to the families of the fallen, but also to the
local community and indeed the general
public. n
‘Chairs of the West Midlands RTPI region at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas; From left
to right with the year of Chairmanship in (brackets); Back row: John Acres (1999 & 2007), Michael
Barker (1994), Bob Stokes (1990), Alan Cave (1983), Dan Roberts (2014), Mark Walton (2011),
Steve Hill (2010), Sandra Ford (2013), Andrew Thompson (2012), Charles Robinson (1996),
Graham Harrison (1987). Front row: Clive Harridge (1995), Peter Lindsell (1993), Shirley Trafford
(1982), Mike Beazley (2001-02).
editor – John acres, Ripon Cottage, 5 Manor Road, Kilsby, near Rugby, Warks, CV23 8XS
Work: 0121 234 9106 • home: 01788 824343 • email: acresclark@lineone.net
M i d l a n d S
Inside
Chair’s report
Sandwell MBC win RtPi local
authority Planning team of the
Year 2014
editor’s thoughts
Cannock Chase Special area
of Conservation explained
Coventry Cathedral awarded
RtPi West Midlands Centenary
Project awards
friargate development in
Coventry highly Commended
for Regional excellence award
Coventry local Plan approved
for Public Consultation
Young planners update
Planning aid Update
Remembering Sir Peter hall
long live strategic planning
Strategic Planning Beyond
co-operation
new Subscription rates
the annual RtPi 5 a side
football tournament
CPd
Ben Simm: Young Planner
of the Year
the RtPi autumn Reception
Visit our
new website
turley.co.uk
Sponsoring Tripwire
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(Here I Am) Stuck in the Middle with You
I
t’ll never be the same again, you
know. Now that the kerfuffle* has
passed north of the border, don’t
think the dust has settled. The genie
is out of the bottle. The can of worms
has been opened. The late-on panic
response of the ‘no vote’ Better
Together camp has thrown up a lot of
what the Nationalists wanted – not
quite Devo Max, but better than
nothing – and now Wales and the
English regions are fancying a slice of
what has been promised to the Scots.
It’s an understandable reaction. In
the planning sphere, for example, how
many of us have made development
management recommendations or
policy decisions, or advised our client,
while glancing over our shoulder, all
too conscious of consequences of
central imposition or interference if
our stance is disputed and our
authority challenged? Pretty much all
of us, I suspect. The very antithesis
of ‘localism’, don’t you think?
The failure to bridge the gap between
national and local has continued to
cause all kinds of problems for
strategic planning. If you were a
cynic, you may even surmise that this
has been done deliberately. After all,
a dysfunctional planning system may
play into certain political hands. Many
consider that the sporadic rise of
neighbourhood planning has only
exacerbated the gulf.
I can only speak from experience. By
way of example, when the then
government’s design agenda was
burgeoning, at the turn of the century
(doesn’t that make me sound old?!),
and the process of design review was
being promoted, the first couple I
attended – where a hit squad of
design gurus up from ‘The Smoke’
pontificated about schemes they
barely understood, in a locations
they didn’t really seem to know –
the resultant advice was
frequently criticised as being
London-centric and out of touch,
impractical even. When the
process was regionalised, through
the architectural schools in the case
of the Midlands, the quality of
outcome was considered, by most,
to be much more relevant and
responsive. The gap,
between national and local,
had been bridged, to a
certain extent. And the
same should be true for
planning, in a broader
2
Sep/Oct
sense. There needs to be more
strategic cohesion. Now there’s a
thought...
This won’t mean one size fits all, of
course. I can’t remember where I
heard it now – Radio 4 or perhaps
BBC2; I could even have read it (it
has been known...) – but the historic
business ethic in the Midlands, it was
contended, is borne out of
competition, as the various
engineering and metal-bashing
companies vied amongst themselves
for contracts and supremacy. This
was contrasted with the northern cloth
trades, either side of the Pennines,
cotton and wool, where co-operation
between the various processes of
industry was much more apparent.
This seems to have carried through
into modern times. For example, in a
show of solidarity, in 2003, the three
northern RDAs combined to promote
‘The Northern Way’ and the Greater
Manchester Authorities have just
produced a draft Joint Strategic Plan.
Harry Enfield’s 1980s portrayal of an
obnoxious, self-made Midlander,
whose catchphrase was that he had
become “consid-rablay more richa
than yow”, struck a chord, or perhaps
touched a nerve. (It was annoyingly
familiar and funny.) Yet, experiences
of places like the Jewellery Quarter in
Brum indicate an intricate
interdependency of production, which
would seem to counter this belief. In
any case, I’m proud of our middle land
distinction, but we must make more of
this if we are to function effectively
within Britain and beyond, and
translate national ideas into our local
places.
It’s a little before my
time, and I’m sure
there will no
shortage of retired
officers who will
put me right if
not, but I
understand it
was the local
government
reorganisation of
1974 that
finally
removed councils’ autonomy to spend
their own budgets as they wished.
Since then, projects are at the behest
of bidding wars and beauty
competitions, where the loans and
grants are handed out but the
independence and control has gone.
Those who pay the piper call the tune.
To make use of the resources most
effectively, mechanisms are required
to govern strategic co-operation and
placement. There needs to be a way
of filling the void between where ‘top
down’ meets ‘bottom up’. (Now,
doesn’t that sound like a good party?!)
Talking of parties, I noted that, in the
bit of the speech to the Labour Party
Conference that Red Ed managed to
remember, his repeated use of the
word ‘together’ was reported as weak
(by the right wing, so-called ‘popular’
press). On the other side, the Tories
have been claiming that we’re all in it
together for most of their term in
office, (a load of utter Bullingdon).
Funnily enough, I can’t recall what the
Lib Dems’ stance is. Not to worry; if
current polls are anything to go by, we
should be taking more notice of UKIP,
as Britain’s growing third party.
This is bigger, much bigger, than
Party Politics. It’s about the places
we know, and want to make better.
It’s about our love for what we do, and
why we do it. It’s about our need to
get it right, for everyone else’s sake.
To this end, I’m encouraged to see
that the RTPI have just published a
policy note, soon to be developed into
a paper, entitled Strategic Planning:
Beyond “Co-operation”. Be brave,
HQ, be brave!
You may recall, at the end of last year,
I referred to the notion of
togetherness, as a profession – for us
to work together, as public, private
and third sectors, for the good of
planning, as a practice and as a
profession. Of this, I’m more
convinced than ever. n
Dan Roberts
RTPI West Midlands Chair
* Derivation of ‘kerfuffle’ n. (colloq.)
fuss, commotion. [Probably from
Scots, curfuffle, or related to Irish coir
thual (char athwart: confusion,
disorder)] – at least there’s one fact in
these ramblings... plus, it’s such a
lovely sounding word.
Sandwell MBC win RTPI Local Authority
Planning Team of the Year 2014
I
n June, Sandwell Metropolitan
Borough Council was awarded Local
Authority Planning Team of the Year
by the RTPI, recognising Planning
Excellence.
Sandwell comprises the six towns of
Tipton, Wednesbury, Oldbury, Rowley
Regis, Smethwick and West Bromwich
- its strategic centre. Like many areas
within the Black Country, Sandwell has
a proud industrial legacy. However, this
presents major challenges, with many
of Sandwell’s brownfield sites having
difficult ground conditions with the
presence of heavy metals, so
significant remediation is required to
achieve a viable development.
Sandwell is also one of the country’s
most deprived areas with relatively low
disposable incomes and limited job
opportunities.
Despite these challenges, Sandwell
Planners have developed innovative
approaches to instil confidence in
developers as to the quality of their
planning service, and to deliver
regeneration improvements.
The RTPI judges recognised that not
only had Sandwell overcome the
conventional and inherent challenges,
but also that their accomplishments had
been achieved during a long economic
down-turn They felt Sandwell has an
“excellent planning service that has
clearly gone the extra mile. It includes
many elements that are transferable to
other planning authorities.”
The main focus of Sandwell’s
regeneration programme on the ground
has been West Bromwich town centre.
The programme has taken 14 years
from conception to completion, which
included a lengthy land assembly
programme for the £200million ‘New
Square’ development. Anchored by
Tesco and Primark, the 15.4ha New
Square retail and leisure complex was
pieced together through Council land
contributions and compulsory
purchases. It also entailed the reconfiguration of the town’s ring road
and the creation of the £25m A41
Underpass, and the relocation of a
primary school and police station. New
Square has been integrated within the
existing town centre with £8m being
invested in high quality public realm
connections.
Other schemes delivered in the town
over the last five years include the
£80m Providence Place office
development; the £77m Sandwell
College Central Campus and the £20m
‘Urban 180’ residential-led mixed-use
scheme as well as the Lyng
development adjacent to the town
centre.
A key component in bringing
development forward has been
Sandwell’s ‘Development Ready’
initiative. This innovative approach proactively identifies prime Council and
privately-owned sites for development.
Officers prepare and issue site
development prospectuses free of
charge which contain site conditions,
policy compliant potential development
options, and indicative site layouts
prepared by the team’s urban
designers. Viability issues are identified
and where necessary the team
searches for funding mechanisms to fill
the gaps. Sites are marketed to
developers with dedicated officer
support for the site developer
throughout the project. Sandwell’s
Planners perform a consultancy role
working according to the ‘Development
Ready’ Charter which sets out the
service that developers will receive.
Sep/Oct
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Development Manager) and Nick
Bubalo, (Regeneration & Economy
Director), and were taken on a
comprehensive walking tour around
West Bromwich town centre. The tour
showed how the town has been
transformed, through high quality
places, key points of architectural
interest such as ‘The Public’ and
Sandwell College Central Campus,
and improved retail, leisure,
residential and commercial offer.
Dan Roberts, Chair of RTPI West
Midlands commented on Sandwell’s
award:
Sandwell’s commitment to delivering a
quality and pro-active planning service
also runs through to its impressive
Development Management record. In
2013 planners decided 86% of major
applications and 81% of minor
applications within 13 weeks. 91% of
other applications were determined
within 8 weeks.
In addition to Sandwell’s regeneration
and development management
accomplishments, the judges
recognised the success of the ‘Grot
Spot’ initiative where dilapidated
properties, eye-sores or anti-social
behaviour areas are targeted for
improvement. Since 2013, the
planners have identified 168 ‘Grot
spots’, improving 124 of them through
funding intervention or in partnership
with the owners.
Underpinning Sandwell’s work and
looking further ahead, the Black
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Sep/Oct
Country Core Strategy identifies
housing and employment corridors in
which Sandwell is committed to
providing 21,400 new homes and
1,000ha of employment land by 2026.
The next regeneration priority for
Sandwell’s planners is Smethwick,
which will once again see similar
challenges to development. There is
also a second Master Plan in the
pipeline for West Bromwich, as a
result of the new confidence the
recent regeneration has brought to
the area.
A joint event between the RTPI West
Midlands and Sandwell MBC was
held on the 2nd October 2014 to
showcase West Bromwich’s
achievements and to enable
Sandwell MBC to share their ideas
and current working practices with
others. Delegates heard from
Sandwell’s lead planners; Philippa
Smith, (Spatial Planning &
‘Having known Sandwell and West
Bromwich all my life, it was
impressive to see the amount of
positive change that has taken place
within the Borough and across the
town over the past 15-20 years.
These improvements advocate the
‘plan-based approach’ to regeneration
adopted, and many lessons can be
learnt about how to deliver a plan,
and the attention to detail required. It
was also very evident how much the
planning officers are committed to
their task, several of whom have been
at the authority for many years; a
testament to the organisation, given
the economic circumstances of the
area and public service cuts. As well
as us as visitors, the event provided
an opportunity for Sandwell’s officers
to reflect upon what they have
achieved, and what needs to come
next – but they’ve done a great job so
far, and it’s clear why they deserved
their Award’. n
For further information please
contact Jenna Wallis, Sandwell MBC.
Editor’s thoughts
M
aking things happen is the
primary role of planning. It
goes without saying that
there is little point in devising plans
and strategies if they are not
practicable or cannot be delivered.
against all the odds the planners
are clearly delivering something
which is lacking from many
authorities elsewhere – a ‘can do’
culture linked to a ‘will do’ attitude
of staff.
It was all the more refreshing
therefore to attend the ½ day event
hosted by Sandwell MBC at West
Bromwich to celebrate the award
of their title as 2014 RTPI Local
authority of the year.
Whilst some Councils have
introduced complex and costly
pre-application processes with
prolonged timescales which act as
an effective barrier to change or
have the effect of delaying
development, Sandwell has not
only adopted an ‘open door’ policy
but put out a ‘Welcome Mat’ as
well.
As a relatively deprived part of the
region, with more than its fair
share of social, economic and
practical problems, not least a
legacy of industrial decline,
Sandwell does not have the
advantages or the market strength
of many of the more prosperous
parts of the West Midlands. Yet
The Council has launched a free
design service as part of its
‘Development Ready’ initiative.
Developers are offered a free
prospectus showing how a design
could be successfully delivered and
setting the parameters for the
successful scheme. But they go
beyond that – they help to organise
funding streams to help bridge the
gap where there are viability issues,
so that effectively the officers
become consultants offering a direct
service.
The performance targets for
planning applications are
impressive. But these only tell half
the story. It is often said that the
speed of decision is less important
than the quality of the outcome. In
this case, Sandwell MBC has taken
public service to a new level and
clearly fully deserve their ‘planning
excellence award’. Well done! n
John Acres
Editor
Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation explained
A response to the Editor’s
thoughts article in Tripwire
(May/June 2014).
“
The Cannock Chase SAC
Partnership comprises the
group of LPAs in Staffordshire
and the Black Country (Stafford,
South Staffs, Cannock Chase,
Lichfield, East Staffs, Walsall &
Wolverhampton) together with
Staffordshire County Council as
owners/managers of the SAC and
Natural England as advisors, who
are required by the EU Habitats
Directive to make an appropriate
response in decision making
processes to deal with the impact
of new development on the SAC.
The evidence accepted at recent
Local Plan examinations is that a
15% growth in visitors resulting
from the combined housing
proposals in the plans to 2031 will
result in additional damage to the
SAC unless appropriate mitigation
is put in place. Hence all
the adopted and emerging plans
have policies requiring appropriate
mitigation. The plans would not
have been found sound without
such policies being included.
The LPAs then have a further duty
as competent authorities under the
EU Directive to ensure that decisions
made to grant planning permission
for housing development do not
individually and collectively result in
adverse effects on the integrity of the
SAC. It is the responsibility of
individual developers to propose
appropriate mitigation. However for
small and medium sized
developments in the Staffordshire
Districts it is not necessary for a
bespoke mitigation proposal to be
put forward and instead we either
propose to or already operate a
system of relatively modest financial
contributions per dwelling, making
the process much cheaper and
easier for developers than would be
the case if each applicant had to
undertake their own assessment of
impact.
As the SAC is public access land
under the CROW Act, it is not
possible to charge people to use it,
although we acknowledge that car
parking can be charged for.
Management of visitors to prevent
additional damage, including a
review of the approach to car
parking provision in and around the
SAC are key elements of the
mitigation strategy.
So there is an evidenced causal
link between new housing
development and potential damage
to the SAC that the law requires
the planning processes to resolve
in a way that secures the healthy
state of the protected habitat,
whilst still enabling development to
take place. The solution we are
providing is a practical means of
balancing the needs of the
economy with that of communities
and the environment.” n
John Heminsley
Cannock Chase DC
Sep/Oct
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Coventry Cathedral Awarded RTPI West Midlands
Centenary Project Awards
C
oventry City Council was delighted
to receive the RTPI West Midlands
Centenary Project Award. The
Centenary project award is a one off award
to celebrate the art and science of
planning over the last 100 years. It was
open to projects that are standing the test
of time and which are playing a role in the
success of development and are
influencing social, economic and
environmental improvement.
Coventry Cathedral has been an important
focus and central point for the city
throughout many centuries. The medieval
cathedral was subsequently destroyed by
the Coventry Blitz of November 1940. The
decision to rebuild the cathedral and
preserve the ruins was made the following
day after the devastating attack.
The judges said that Coventry Cathedral is
a clear example of a building which whilst
has a symbolic role for the city of Coventry
and the nation has led to the development
of the art and science of Town Planning.
By preserving the cathedral ruins the
officers of the day preserved the medieval
core of the city centre, which led to officers
developing new skills focusing on
conservation which are still prevalent
today. With the construction of the new
Cathedral it is a clear examples of working
with a mediaeval structure and new
construction techniques, but utilising the
same materials. This has led to the
Cathedral becoming symbolic of Coventry.
Councillor Hazel Sweet who accepted the
award on behalf of Coventry City Council
said, “I was absolutely delighted to receive
the award for Coventry Cathedral, and that
Friargate was highly commended for the
Regional Award for Planning
Excellence. We take planning very
seriously in Coventry because we know
how important good planning is. It has the
power to create wonderful building and
spaces. Good planning can also help us
to build sustainable communities and drive
economic wealth.”
“It always nice to be recognised by
professional organisations. I was especially
pleased that in the judges’ comments they
clearly understood that Coventry actively
preserves its historic core, but understands
how new development can complement
these existing structures in a sympathetic
way as has been done around Coventry
Cathedral.” n
In 1951 Basil Spence won the design
competition and was appointed as the
architect for the new cathedral. Under his
plan the new cathedral would be built next
to the ruins which would act as a memorial
garden and forecourt to the new cathedral.
In reality this enabled the creation of one
church through the use of a canopy
structure between the old and new but
also the use of Hollington Sandstone
which provides unity between the two
buildings.
The new cathedral was the premier
building of Britain’s post-war reconstruction
as the nation emerged out of austerity. The
modernist design raised significant
discussions but the architecture fitted with
the redevelopment of the city during the
post-war development and wider Gibson
plan. The new cathedral also houses one
of the nation’s most important 20th century
art collections.
Friargate Development in Coventry Highly Commended
for Regional Excellence Award
A
t the recent West Midlands
Centenary Ball Awards, the
Friargate Development in Coventry
was highly commended for the Regional
Award for Planning Excellence 2014.
Friargate is a major regeneration project in
Coventry City Centre that will transform
the existing 1960’s office complex around
Coventry Railway Station into an important
mixed use employment centre and create
a new gateway to the city centre.
The development is being led in
partnership by Friargate LLP and
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Sep/Oct
Coventry City Council, which has secured
£20 million grant funding from successful
bids to the Regional Grant Fund and
European Regional Development Fund.
This money is being used to implement
the enabling works which will see the
demolition of Junction 6 of the ring road
and replaced by a smallerscale priority
based junction based on the
city’s pioneering ‘low speed’ designs. The
Ring Road will be covered over by a
landscaped bridge deck and direct
pedestrian boulevard enabling Coventry
Railway Station and Friargate to be
integrated into the city centre. This project
is the biggest transformation to the Ring
Road since its completion 40 years ago.
The judges acknowledged and highly
commended the project due to the working
partnership between the private and public
sectors to deliver a high quality
redevelopment that will transform Coventry
City Centre. It was also acknowledged how
the regeneration project had kick-started
further works including the New Civic
Centre for Coventry and Coventry Station
Masterplan. n
Ben Simm
Coventry Local Plan approved for Public Consultation
A
t its meeting on the 9th September
2014, Coventry City Council approved
the next stage of its Local Plan for a
period of public engagement. The Local Plan
has been developed after years of research,
consultation and work to understand how
Coventry needs to grow in order to create
more jobs, better homes for people and
deliver more prosperity to the city.
The new plan has been developed in
response to the issues encountered with
the Council’s previous Core Strategy,
which was withdrawn in early 2013. The
plan involved extensive work with our
neighbouring Councils in accordance with
the Duty to Cooperate. This has led to the
production of joint evidence, most notably
around the housing needs of the Coventry
and Warwickshire Housing Market Area.
The Local Plan sets out the Councils
preferred pathway for the future
development of Coventry. The Council is
promoting a plan built around sustainable
growth on brownfield sites, where possible,
with some growth on land currently within
the greenbelt. The Council recognises that
in order to maintain the city’s current
growth in population, jobs and economic
prosperity that it needs to plan for new
homes of the right type, quality and
location. There is a strong desire to make
Coventry great again and return it to its
position within the country’s Top 10 City’s.
The plan is issued for a period of public
engagement until the 31st October and we
want to hear your thoughts and comments
about it. Please visit our new Local Plan
website at www.coventry.gov.uk/localplan
and share your thoughts. n
Young planners update
S
ince our last appearance in Tripwire
there are a number of YP events to
update members on. Going back to
June, Amec assisted the President’s visit
with a presentation on energy generation
and meeting demand in the West Midlands.
challenging West Midlands’ professionals
to raise money for The Brain Tumour
Charity, promoting understanding and
treatment of tumours especially in young
children. Although we didn’t win this year,
there was no wooden spoon!
We are very pleased to congratulate Ben
Simm on achieving the 2014 Young
Planner of the Year Award, Emma Evans
on her commendation, and Laura Smith on
her contribution to the Ball. All have proven
incredibly supportive of YP West Midlands,
and we are very grateful!
Clare Parry of Cornerstone Barristers
recently presented to Young Planners on
Wind Farms, a particularly topical issues
given subsequent discussion and call in
decisions published in recent weeks. Rosie
Cotterill (Turley) has also spoken at the
induction days for new undergraduate and
postgraduate students at University of
Birmingham to explain the YP network and
how new students can get involved.
To continue, 2014 YP were represented at
the Big Birmingham Quiz this year,
The annual Young Planners Conference
takes place in October, and it is fantastic
that so many from our region are
attending. To make sure candidates are
prepared, we will be hosting an APC event
at the University of Birmingham later this
year and have a seminar on the Green
Belt coming up.
Finally, Members should also look out for
details of our annual Christmas networking
which will be sent shortly.... To get involved
in YP please do let us know. n
Clare Lucey
DTZ
YP Westmids
Planning Aid Update
P
lanning Aid England’s core function to provide independent planning
advice and to support communities
to engage in, and influence, planning
issues that affect them - has been given a
boost with a number of new staff appointed
to deliver the Planning Aid Direct service.
The Planning Aid Direct team oversee a
Q&A web resource (called Planning Aid
Direct), the Advice Line (by phone and
email), casework and outreach and
community engagement.
These services are proving popular with
Planning Aid Direct receiving over 1600
hits a month, over 60 advice line queries a
week and over the last six months 23
communities and individuals have
received further support from Planning Aid
England’s network of professional
volunteers.
If you know of any groups or organisations
who may benefit from support, contact
casework@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk. The
eligibility criteria can be accessed here as
Planning Aid England’s focus remains on
assisting individuals and communities who
cannot afford planning consultants and
those who do not traditionally engage in
the Planning system.
For further information on Planning Aid
England please visit their website:
http://www.rtpi.org.uk/planning-aid/. n
Kat Salter
Planning Aid Advisor
Remembering Sir Peter Hall
A
commemorative event for Sir Peter
Hall will be held at the Royal
Geographical Society, London, on
22nd October from 1.30 to 5.30 pm.
others. Further details of the event and to
register are available on the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering
-peter-hall-tickets-12933026029 n
The Bartlett School of Planning and the
TCPA are making the arrangements in
liaison with the RTPI, RIBA, RGS and
Colin Bendall
Governance Officer, RTPI
020 7929 8172
Sep/Oct
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Long live strategic planning by David Carter
O
n 29 August 2014, I left
Birmingham City Council for the
last time. I had been there since
1986 and before that had spells at West
Midlands County Council (WMCC) and
Wolverhampton MBC. My first job was
as a Trainee Planner experiencing roles
in all the key areas of planning
including development control. A brief
period at Wolverhampton in Economic
Development was invaluable in giving
me an understanding of development
viability and implementation.
Most of my career, however, has been
working on strategic planning and during
this time the planning system has been
altered significantly on several
occasions. I thought it would be
interesting in this piece to reflect on
some of my experience.
It’s all about structure
Structure Planning was the name of the
game in the 1970’s and, in fairness,
these plans – which had 100%
coverage – are fondly remembered.
Whilst working on the West Midlands
County Structure Plan took a fair
proportion of my time, what I remember
most at both WMCC and the City
Council were the Examinations-inPublic for the shire county structure
plans. It was through these that many of
my networking contacts were initially
made and these have stood the test of
time.
The early ones were supporting Alan
Johnston who was to go on to become
the County Planner at Leicestershire
CC. I learned several really important
things at these EIPs. The application of
tactical thinking and presenting a
coherent case were really important.
Preparation is the key to achieving both
of these. Another key lesson was in
actually addressing the questions put by
the Panel and adapting the arguments
accordingly. While this seems pretty
commonsense stuff it was (and remains)
surprising how many participants did not
do this at such events! Over the years
the tool I used was a copious supply of
post-it notes - the easiest way to
remember key points, order them
sensibly and effectively produce
speeches very quickly.
At the time of structure plans of course
we also had local plans. My personal
experience was working on the AldridgeBrownhills Local Plan but overall this era
of local planning was hardly blazed in
glory. Many local plans took far too long
to produce and were overly detailed and
inflexible.
8
Sep/Oct
All change
Here we go again
Abolition of the Metropolitan Counties in
1986 brought in Unitary Development
Plans coupled with a new type of
strategic planning through new ‘Strategic
Planning Guidance’. This was to prove
effective in bringing together the unitary
authorities and shire counties, facilitated
by a Planning Conference, to ensure
effective cross boundary planning. This
process enabled the initial round of
UDP’s to be produced, including the
Birmingham Plan.
UDPs were replaced in 2004 by the new
Local Development Frameworks
although in Birmingham we completed
the Alterations to the UDP in 2005. The
complexity of the LDF system proved to
be challenging but it did have its
advantages. In a complex authority like
Birmingham the preparation of a single
plan comprehensively covering strategic
and local aspects in one go was
demanding to say the least, so the
concept of the suite of documents
addressing the city as a whole – through
the Core Strategy – and
neighbourhoods and localities or within
particular policy areas was and remains
attractive. I say it remains the case,
because for all the bluster by the current
Government, the essential
characteristics of the LDF stay in-place
albeit with a greater emphasis on
production of a single local plan.
There few rules and regulations
governing the new types of Plans and
this presented the opportunity to
produce the sort of document we
wanted if we were quick enough.
Regrettably, subsequent revisions to the
planning system have introduced all
manner of guidance and good practice
to tell us how we should be doing
things.
The Birmingham Plan (UDP) was the
subject of Public Local Inquiry, but the
best thing about this process – in my
view – was that the inquiry was into
objections to the plan so the LPA was
able to marshal the evidence needed to
make the case stick. There was not the
current vogue to examine ‘soundness’ ,
which in my view, places too much power
in the hands of PINS - or the requirement
that all the evidence to support the plan
has to be in-place, up-front.
Stand up and be counted
In the mid-1990’s I experienced my first
big Call-in inquiry into the extension of
the Merry Hill shopping centre. I helped
pull together a consortium of c30 local
authorities and private companies to
fight the proposals. The inquiry lasted
around 6 weeks and I remember my
biggest worry (apart from the anticipated
cross-examination!) was clocking up of
various consultant’s and legal fees
without an agreed budget to cover
them. Fortunately everyone chipped-in
so the bills got paid. However, in career
terms working with Martin Kingston QC
for the duration was invaluable and
helped set me up for all the subsequent
inquiries and examinations I would
encounter. The outcome helped instil
the confidence to enable the
redevelopment of Bullring in
Birmingham as well significant
rejuvenation and investment in a host of
other town centres – such as Walsall
and West Bromwich. Other memories
from that inquiry include John Taylor
QC’s chauffeur-driven Roller and one of
the late Sir Peter Hall’s few forays into
the West Midlands on behalf of
Chelsfield, the centre owners.
In late 2010 we produced a draft Core
Strategy which, with the benefit of
hindsight, could and possibly should
have been pushed through to
submission and adoption in the light of
delays to the revocation of the Regional
Spatial Strategy (RSS). It is, of course,
the revocation of the RSS’s that is the
‘Achilles heel’ of the development
planning system. We now have to rely
on the tricky cross-boundary strategic
stuff being sorted out and then taken
forward in the district-level plan. Initially,
the RSS’s may have had few friends,
but in the West Midlands the Regional
Plan was responsible for heralding the
urban renaissance approach on the
back of the Lord Rogers Task Force. It
was a successful in that it ensured
effective cross-boundary planning
across 38 local authorities. Policy-led
planning was then the vogue.
Pickled, or maybe not?
This brings me up to date and to the
Duty to Co-operate (DtC) which was
introduced to fill the strategic gap left by
the RSS revocation and occurred in
parallel with the establishment of the
new LEPs. In the West Midlands I tried
to encourage discussions at regional,
metropolitan and Greater Birmingham
and Solihull Local Enterprise
Partnership (GBSLEP) levels early on,
based on the premise that working
together should be less risky, more
effective and more efficient than relying
on bi-lateral liaison. This particularly
applies in the West Midlands where so
many authorities need to be involved.
To my mind, since the LEPs were the
new show in town it was logical they
should be a focus for strategic spatial
planning activity. The Black County
Core Strategy which was in a separate
LEP would not be reviewed until 2016
so a strategic spatial plan needed to be
taken forward in the GBSLEP area.
The emerging GBSLEP’s Strategic Plan
for Recovery and Growth (SPRG)
offered the most significant challenge
and scope for innovative thinking for
many years. Strategic planning capacity
had already been drastically cut, the
Regional Assembly’s capability had all
but disappeared and in the City Council
resources had been reduced by more
than one-third. So how could we
produce the new-style spatial plan?
Essentially the answer was to bridge
some of the lost capacity by directly
involving our partners from other
sectors, not just as a sounding board,
but by asking them to lead some of the
work. To some, the ‘loosening’ of local
authority control might be regarded as a
risk, but I saw it as a key strength
because it engenders what I have
described elsewhere as ‘collaborative
responsibility’.
One of my regrets in leaving my job is
that I am unable to oversee the
completion of the next stage of the
SPRG, but make no mistake if this
happens it will be a huge achievement
which will demonstrate that the DtC can
be made to work and is an approach
that could almost certainly be adapted
and adopted in other areas.
The planning system:
in need of an overhaul?
If the GBSLEP fails to produce the
second stage of the SPRG then the
thorny issue of the scale and distribution
of long term growth will remain
unresolved. This will render the DtC as
unworkable and the development
planning system will need a fundamental
overhaul. Perhaps of greater significance,
however, would be that the economic
potential and future quality of living in the
West Midlands would be compromised.
follow the growth leading to a rewriting
of investment priorities.
In approaching the DtC, whether in joint
or bi-lateral discussions, my strategy
has always been to try to provide
leadership, since that is what I believe
the largest local authority is expected to
provide, but to do so in a way which is
neither dominating nor insensitive to the
views in the adjoining areas. It will be for
others to judge whether I achieved this
and time will tell whether the City
Council continues to adopt this
approach or if the nature of relations
across the sub-region enter a new
phase.
While strategic planning has been in the
doldrums, it is beginning to make a
return. The GBSLEP can see its value
and it is interesting that the LEP’s
Strategic Economic Plan’s Growth Deals
make a welcome reference to need for
positive planning being a pre-requisite
for securing funds.
The next step
Throughout the second half of the c20th
Birmingham’s population was in decline,
a process that was at least partially
driven by the post WW2 planning
policies of decentralisation. This decline
has now been reversed, no doubt
assisted by the successes of urban
renaissance strategies, which whilst
critical, require a refresh in the light of
significantly changing circumstances. In
a period of rapid population growth in
my view we should adopt a twin-track
approach which continues with urban
renaissance but also allows for
significant growth elsewhere.
Uncertainties over Governance remain
an issue and there must be some hope
that there might be a move towards a
combined authority across the wider city
region. The Leaders of the metropolitan
districts have taken control of transport
agenda but this really needs to be far
better integrated across and on equal
terms with other policy areas thus
enabling West Midlands achieve its full
potential. n
David Carter will be continuing to
practice on a freelance basis.
Details: W: DCarterConsulting.com
E: rollingstart@yahoo.com
T: 07795087173
My prescription would be to ‘go for
growth’ but to concentrate this in a
limited number of both brownfield and
greenfield locations. This would allow
for a selective review of green belt and
also consider the creation of a new
industrial or economic zone, or zones,
close to the conurbation. Such an
approach would take the pressure off
most areas and provide a plan that
unequivocally answers questions on the
strategic direction of long term growth.
Coupled to this would be a requirement
that infrastructure investment should
Strategic Planning Beyond co-operation
J
ust in time for the Party
Conferences, the RTPI issued a 4
page policy paper entitled ‘Strategic
Planning Beyond Co-operation’.
The paper addresses the yawning gap
created by the loss of regional and
strategic planning and the failure of the
Duty to Co-operate to deliver a coordinated strategy, and concludes that a
voluntary approach involving local
authorities within the same market area,
City region, County (or possibly LEP
area) working together is likely to
produce the best solution.
Launching the paper at the Conservative
Party fringe meeting hosted by Savills in
Birmingham, Trudi Elliot argued that local
authorities need to ‘go with the money’
and form alliances which can bid for
funding. This might ‘kill two birds with one
stone’ in forming viable groups of
authorities which can work together in
meeting housing needs as well as
maximising economic potential.
Promoting Healthy Cities
A separate document in the Planning
Horizons series entitled ‘Promoting
Healthy Cities’ has also just been
issued. This paper takes an international
perspective on Planning & Health,
exploring the impact of demographic
change, urbanisation and life
expectancy.
Copies of both these documents are
available from the RTPI website. n
Sep/Oct
9
New Subscription rates
O
ur Members’ Bulletin will shortly
be announcing the subscriptions
rates for 2015. The core fee for
chartered members will be £290 from
January. This rate is still considerably
lower than most chartered members
were paying in 2009.
Our centenary survey, completed by
over 5,700 members, reinforced the
message that members have big
aspirations for their professional
institute. In the coming years, we need
to ensure therefore that the resources
are available to support the work
required to deliver these aspirations
across England, Scotland, Wales,
Ireland, Northern Ireland and
internationally. This has led us to
conclude that we need to make a
moderate increase in the subscriptions
fees for next year.
The Board of Trustees has held the core
rate steady - with no increases for five
years, recognising how important it was
to support members during a particularly
challenging time. We also resisted
automatic yearly inflationary increases,
in contrast, for example, to some sister
institutes who have implemented fee
increases from 2012.
We expect extending free membership
to all students on RTPI accredited
courses will be very popular.
A key part of the strategy to support the
pegging of members rates, has been the
way in which the Institute has itself
made very significant savings in recent
years, as well as considerable efforts to
diversify income streams. Savings by
the Institute to its cost base have
amounted to £500k in this period.
If you have any queries or require
further information please contact
tino.hernandez@rtpi.org.uk.
A full list of subscriptions for 2015 can
be seen here n
Sara Drake
Managing Director
The Annual RTPI 5 a side Football tournament
Post Match Analysis (by the winners!)
T
he tournament that everybody had
been waiting for finally arrived on
17th July 2014 (World Cup? What
World cup?!
The West Midlands RTPI 5-a-side
tournament kicked off in Birmingham at
the Futsal arena, where the hot and
humid conditions of Brazil had been
kindly recreated for us all to experience.
In total, 15 teams turned up to do battle
on the day, hoping to emulate their
heroes from the World Cup, though
thankfully there was plenty of pizza to
keep the ‘Suarez wannabes’ at bay.
Early on in the tournament one of the
Nuneaton & Bedworth BC players was
involved in a challenge where a Savills
player retired injured. As good
sportsmen, they donated a player so
that they could continue to take part in
the tournament.
NBBC had some tough matches as they
battled through the group stages. The
likes of Kings Chambers, Barton
Willmore and Birmingham City Council,
all proved to be formidable opponents.
However, Dicken who served as coach,
manager, player, water boy, psychologist,
physiotherapist, masseur and medic (you
get the idea!) kept us in good form and
we managed to remain triumphant.
After all the blood, sweat and tears it
eventually came down to two teams.
NBBC met Cerda, the defending
champions, to challenge for the coveted
trophy. It was a tough game with
numerous attempts on goal denied by
both keepers. But with no goals for
either team after the final whistle it
10
Sep/Oct
meant the game would be decided by
the dreaded penalty shootout.
Despite Cerda scoring the opening goal,
putting pressure on the NBBC team, a
save from Casserly in the 2nd round of
penalties stopped Cerda in their tracks
and ultimately it was finally Baldwin who
kept his cool and blasted home the final
penalty to ensure Cerda’s reign of the
West Midlands came to an end.
Cerda picked up the Golden Boot Award
with Casserly picking up the Safe Hands
Award. After lifting the prestigious
tournament trophy, NBBC headed to the
bar to celebrate, only to find it was closed!
Luckily, staff at the Futsal Arena reopened
the bar and celebrations commenced.
Having cemented ourselves in the history
books of the Borough, all we are waiting
for now is drinks with the Mayor and an
open top bus tour around the Borough…
Thanks must go to Gary Smith from
Kings Chambers for once again rallying
the troops and pulling off another well
organised event. See you all next year!
The Team:
1
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Casserly
Baldwin
Peppitt
Ashton
Dicken
Grealy
Snowdon
Daly
Collinson n
Dale Peppitt
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough
Council (Home to the Champions of the
RTPI West Midlands 5 a side Football
Tournament 2014)
Continuing Professional Development
:::::::::: events Calendar :: October > december ::::::::::
REgIOnAL PROgRAMME
Non-members of RTPI welcome to attend.
THURSDAY 23 OCTOBER
Land-use and Transport Integration
Transport and land-use planning are
intrinsically linked through policy and strategy
decision making through to designing places
and spaces that function and work. Over a
number of decades the two professions have
tried to integrate transport planning into landuse planning with many excellent examples
around the UK. That said there are many
areas that do not function, with highways
dominating spaces which do not integrate
with the environment they serve. Congestion
affects everyone’s daily life but this also has
knock on impacts in terms of economics,
wealth creation, health and general
accessibility.
Speakers
• Paresh Shingadia, Projects Director, Mott
MacDonald – Chair
• Maria-Pilar Machancoses, Economic
Development Manager, West Midlands
Integrated Transport Authority
• Ken Harrison, Head of Transportation,
Solihull MBC
• Michael Bach, Planning Consultant
• John Acres, Director, Turley
Venue: Offices of Mott MacDonald, 35
Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 3PU
Time: 10am to 1.45pm (Registration from
9.30am) including lunch
Cost: £50 + VAT (£60) for RTPI members,
£60 + VAT (£72) for non-members.
£20 + VAT (£24) for full-time students and the
unwaged
A limited number of places available at £10
incl VAT for full-time students.
Reduced rates if purchased as part of an
annual season ticket
£220 + VAT (£264) for 5 places and £460 +
VAT (£552) for 11 places
Details & bookings: Sue Griffith-Jones
Tel 0121 709 1599
Email westmidlands@rtpi.org.uk
THURSDAY 13 nOVEMBER
Functional Landscapes: the Integration of
green Infrastructure in Urban Design
Functional Landscapes is an event which is
concerned with learning about and discussing
how we can maximise the use of green
infrastructure in the planning and design of
places.
The event will focus upon what green
infrastructure can do (rather than why) and
how and where it can be successfully
integrated into existing and new development
for greatest economic, social and
environmental benefit.
Speakers:
Martin Kelly (TDAg)
Peter neal (Ex CABE Space)
gary grant
Sue Illman (PPLI)
Venue: MADE offices, Birmingham
Time: 10am to 1.45pm (Registration from
9.30am) including lunch
Cost: £50 + VAT (£60) for RTPI members,
£60 + VAT (£72) for non-members.
£20 + VAT (£24) for full-time students and the
unwaged
A limited number of places available at £10
incl VAT for full-time students.
Reduced rates if purchased as part of an
annual season ticket
£220 + VAT (£264) for 5 places and £460 +
VAT (£552) for 11 places
Details & bookings: Sue Griffith-Jones
Tel 0121 709 1599
Email westmidlands@rtpi.org.uk
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER
UK CEnTRAL
Joint event with CIHT West Midlands Branch
Time: 5:30pm for 6:00pm
Venue: Solihull Council Civic Suite, Solihull
UK Central is one of the largest areas being
promoted for future multi-use development in
the West Midlands and is being led by Solihull
MBC. Ken Harrison Head of Policy & Spatial
Planning at Solihull MBC will look at the
thinking behind this initiative, present
challenges and the way forward to help
facilitate its successful development. Ken will
cover policy, master planning, transport,
economic viability and stakeholder
engagement.
Cost: Free of charge
Details and to book: Email
Amanda.Manders@arup.com
or telephone 0121 213 3635
OTHER EVEnTS
THURSDAY 6 nOVEMBER
Duty to Cooperate
Event for planning officers working on DtC
Venue: Birmingham
Cost: Free
Organiser: PAS
Details and to book:
http://www.pas.gov.uk/web/pas-test-site/eventsand-support2//journal_content/56/332612/6387362/ARTICLE
THURSDAY 27 nOVEMBER
The Midlands Construction Summit
Venue: National Motorcycle Museum,
Birmingham
Cost: £95 + VAT
Organiser: Built Environment Hub
To book:
www.midlandsconstructionsummit.co.uk
Ben Simm: Young Planner of the Year
W
hen my name was announced as
Young Planner of the Year I was
initially shocked, however this was
soon replaced with a sense of pride, for the
recognition of my commitment to promote the
profession to Young People and support
Young Planners as they develop.
My time as Chair of Young Planners West
Midlands was one of the most difficult with a
need to deliver a strong CDP and social
calendar on a reduced budget, but the
Committee did so and even returned a
surplus. However for me, the provision of
free high quality education events was key,
as many companies and organisations
slashed training budgets during the
economic downturn.
My main goal as Chair was to promote the
profession to show the skills, knowledge and
ambition which Young Planners can provide
to the profession. To discuss these
opportunities with Nick Boles and Greg
Clarke was an amazing experience and one
I have to thank the RTPI for. I was slightly
star struck to be advising Government
Ministers.
Another opportunity to support Young
Planners and promote the profession was
through the National Young Planners Toolkit.
The aim was to provide a guide and advice
document to support other Young Planners
to set up and sustain a group and hold CPD
and social events. Whilst I was chair I
reorganised the YP West Midlands
Committee giving specific roles and support
in a tiered approach and also ensured that
strong links were maintained both to the
West Midlands Regional Branch and also
RTPI at Botolph Lane.
My other goal was to provide clarity to the
Assessment of Professional Competence
(APC) process. At the time, pass rates were
at a historic low and many Young Planners
were asking for advice and guidance. We
worked closely with the RTPI and the
University of Birmingham and Birmingham
City University. Indeed, the West Midlands
was the first region to hold two APC events
annually, providing an opportunity for
licentiates and students to learn about the
APC process, both from RTPI
representatives and from those who have
already been through the APC process
themselves. Although I had a love hate
relationship with the APC and failed a
number of times, these meetings allowed
me the opportunity to find out where I went
wrong and how to overcome the issue.
After my time as Chair of YP West Midlands, I
continue to promote the profession and teach
others about the values of planning. In my
spare time I support the Walsall Education
Business Partnership, alongside Katy Cradock
from Vivacity. I work with primary school
children, of which many seem to think I earn
big bucks, especially when I say a transport
infrastructure scheme is going to cost £20
million. This work is really rewarding especially
when children actively relate to what I do and
engage with me with creative and intelligent
questions about my job and projects, usually
after they have worked out I’m not a used car
salesman or a banker. Though I have still not
decided which career I would prefer to pursue
if Planning and Highways Development
Control doesn’t work out.!
Whilst I have my day job, which is brilliant,
my extra activities make up a big part of my
life. It has been marvellous to have been
recognised by the region for my commitment
to the profession. So a big thank you to
everyone who has supported and worked
with me to help me achieve my goals and
thanks to those who nominated me for this
awarded. I still haven’t worked out who they
were. n
Ben Simm
Sep/Oct
11
The RTPI Autumn Reception
“
This was a truly memorable occasion,
meeting old colleagues, (and
colleagues of old), and sharing news.
The National Memorial Arboretum
Staffordshire, set within the emerging
National Forest, and thus readily
accessible, was an inspired choice.
Together we all made the pilgrimage
walk up the mound to the Armed
Services Memorial, having the
separate symbolic memorials of so
many organisations, explained to us
on our way.
a slightly open doorway, into heaven,
through which a shaft of sunlight
penetrates at the moment of National
Remembrance on November 11th.
For me the most stunning at the top
within the wall inscribed with the names
of thousands of the fallen, were the two
sculptures; the most moving depicting a
body being lowered into a grave below
So much to see, so many to
remember.” n
Shirley Trafford
RTPI Branch Chair, 1982.
Charity Registration Number: 262865 • Scottish Charity Registration Number: SC 037841 • Registered Office Address Royal Town Planning Institute 41 Botolph Lane London EC3R 8DL.